Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. BLEIKE.

GAR COUPLING. No. 406,386. Patented July 2; 1889.

wnmassas. %5

n. Pmns PhobLltlwlpphnr. Washington. a. c.

I UNITED TATES ATENT OFFIC JOHN BLEIIIE, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,386, dated July 2, 1889.

Serial Nit 304,804. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN BLEIKE, of Mc- Keesport, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating my improved car-coupling. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view of the coupling. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the coupling tongue or hook. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating the connection of the coupling with a draw-head of ordinary construction.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the drawings, 2 represents the end sill, and 3 the center sills, of a railway-car. On the under side of the sill 2 is bolted or otherwise secured a metal box 4, having in the front a flange or ledge 5, fitting against the face of the sill, and at the rear a similar flange or ledge (3, fitting against the back thereof.

7 is the coupling hook or bar, which is made in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, having an arrow-shaped head 8 and a shank or body portion 9, which fits within a cavity in the box 4, and is provided with notches 10, which limit the longitudinal motion of the bar in the box, the box being provided with shoulders 21, adapted to engage the shoulders 20 of said notches, and having faces I) and 0, adapted to fit squarely against the opposite sides of the bar and to serve as a stop for limiting the motion thereof.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bar is capable of the shoulder on one side of the head being made concave in form, and the shoulder on the opposite side being correspondingly convex.

The operation of the device is as follows: Fig. 2 shows couplers on cars which are about to come together. When the heads of these couplers meet, one of them will automatically rise over the other and the shoulders at the rear of the heads will automatically spring into engagement, being urged thereto by the springs 11, the concave shoulder of one head fitting the convex shoulder of the other. The cars are thus coupled securely together, and by reason of the curved form of the shoulders of the heads the connection between them is such as to permit free horizontal swaying or oscillation of the cars when in motion. The strain exerted on the coupling is taken up by the shoulders 20 on the coupling-bars and the corresponding shoulders 21 in the boxes 4.

The act of coupling the cars is performed altogether automatically. .In uncoupling, the lever 12 of one of the cars is raised, thereby tilting the coupling-bar vertically and disengaging the heads, so that neither in the act of coupling nor in uncoupling need the brakeman subject himself to danger between the cars.

WVhen it is desired to couple the car to a car employing other forms of coupling-such as the ordinary draw-bar 17, shown in Fig. 4-1 employ a link 15, made of Y form, one end being forked and so shaped as to fit on the end 8 of the coupling-bar '7. The shank of the link 15 is provided with a hole for the reception of a coupling-pin 16 for securing it to the draw-bar 17, and the forked portion of the link is also adapted to be secured to the head of the coupling-bar by a pin 18, passing through holes at the ends of the forked arms and through a hole in the coupling-bar. The link may conveniently be secured to the car by a chain 19, by which it may be suspended when not in use. (See Fig. 1.)

The advantages of my improved coupling have already been partly indicated and will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The coupling, being automatic in its action, is safe, and is therefore a direct benefit to brake- 1 oo men. It is strong, not apt to get out of order, and is Very cheap in construction and efficient in action.

I claim 1. In a car-coupling, the combination of a coupling-bar and a box having an inclined cavity in which the bar is oscillatory, said cavity having faces Z) and c, situate 011 opposite sides of the bar and adapted to fit against the same, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. I11 a car-coupling, the combination of a coupling-bar, a box in which the bar is set and is oscillatory, and oppositely-situate shoulders on the bar and within the box, by which motion of the bar in either direction is limited, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In a car-coup1ing, the combination of a coupling-bar, a box in which the bar is set and is oscillatory, and a spring 11, hearing on a portion of the bar projecting to the rear of the box, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination of the end sill .2, the flanged metal box 5, secured to the under side of the sill, and a coupling-bar oscillatory within the box, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of a coupling-bar having an arrow-shaped head and a removable link having a portion which fits over the head of the bar, and having an integral projecting shank perforated to receive a coupling-pin, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of March, A. I). 1885).

JOHN BLEIKE.

\Vitnes'ses:

II. D. DARBAKER, HENRY W. DE LACY. 

